Ikonso commander, leader of IPOB militia killed by Nigerian security forces pictured standing before a shrine.
By Abasifreke Effiong
The leader of the militia arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, ,a secessionist group led by a hermit, Nnamdi Kanu, has been killed by security forces.
The militia leader merely known as Commander Ikonso was killed on Saturday 24th, in Awomama community, Oru East local government of Imo State.
Ikonso commander and his gang are said to have masterminded the attack on Imo State Police headquarters and the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Owerri. More than 1500 prisoners, some of whom are yet to be rearrested by the police, were released during the gang’s attack on the correctional centre in Owerri on April 5.
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“They have also carried out series of calculated, violent attacks on security personnel and formations in the South-East and South-South of the country”, a report says.
The Dune learnt that Commander Ikonso and six of his gang members were killed in a joint operation carried out by Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and Department of State Security, DSS.
“As the security forces approached the base of the insurgents, they came under rapid fire from the group. In a bold and clinical response, the joint security forces fought back gallantly. The Forces eventually neutralized the overall commander of the insurgents popularly known as Ikonso Commander and six other armed fighters of the insurgent group.
“After the fierce gun battle, the security team recovered the remains of Ikonso Commander and the six (6) of his fighters. Several sophisticated weapons including six AK-47 rifles, hundreds of ammunition of different caliber and lots of charms including bulletproof charms were recovered from the insurgents.”
Ikonso commander posing in a photo with Nnamdi Kanu.
Police displayed the corpse of Ikonso commander, arms and ammunition recovered from his gang.
Ikonso commander is a known apologist of Nnamdi Kanu who is wanted by the Nigerian government. In a photo shared Saturday afternoon on Facebook after he was killed, Ikonso commander sat on the arm of a couch with Nnamdi Kanu.
The Nigeria Police headquarters did not issue a statement on the operation as of the time of filling this report.
